Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, is set to issue a crucial new ministerial regulation aimed at preventing and addressing school violence. This pivotal announcement comes in the wake of a tragic bullying case that led to the death of MH, a 13-year-old student at SMP Negeri 19 Tangerang Selatan (Tangsel), who allegedly suffered abuse from several peers within the school environment.
The planned ministerial decree will serve to revise and strengthen existing frameworks, as Minister Mu’ti explained to reporters on Monday, November 17. His remarks were made following his attendance at the launch of Indonesia’s learning digitalization program at SMP Negeri 4 Bekasi, West Java. He affirmed, “We will subsequently issue a Permendasmen to improve the previous Permendasmen.”
A central component of these new measures will be the mandatory formation of dedicated violence prevention and handling teams within every school. These teams are envisioned to be comprehensive, drawing members from parents, students, and other key school community elements. Minister Mu’ti emphasized that these teams would adopt a more “humane, comprehensive, and participatory” approach to ensure that the types of school violence witnessed recently do not recur within educational institutions.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the General Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership noted that he had not yet received a complete report on MH’s tragic death. This is because the case remains under active investigation by local police authorities in Tangsel.
The gravity of the situation has also drawn attention from the highest levels of government, with President Prabowo Subianto previously expressing deep concern over the bullying case that claimed MH’s life. Addressing reporters at the same Bekasi event on November 17, President Prabowo affirmed, “Yes, we must overcome that,” underscoring the national commitment to tackle school bullying effectively.
MH’s harrowing ordeal reportedly involved repeated incidents of bullying since the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS). The violence tragically escalated on Monday, October 20, when the victim was allegedly struck with a chair by a classmate, marking a critical turning point in his suffering.
Following the assault, MH received initial treatment at a private hospital in South Tangerang. However, his condition deteriorated significantly, necessitating a referral to Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta. Sadly, MH succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Sunday, November 16, as confirmed by his older brother, Rizky.
Summary
Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, is preparing a new ministerial regulation to prevent and address school violence following the tragic death of 13-year-old MH due to bullying at SMP Negeri 19 Tangerang Selatan. This decree aims to revise and strengthen existing frameworks, driven by a national commitment to tackle such incidents effectively, as also expressed by President Prabowo Subianto.
A central component of the new regulation will be the mandatory formation of dedicated violence prevention and handling teams in every school, involving parents, students, and the community. MH’s ordeal reportedly involved repeated bullying since the School Environment Introduction Period, escalating to an assault on October 20, which led to his hospitalization and subsequent passing on November 16.
